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Syria: Where politicians stand

John Boehner

The Speaker urged President Obama to "make the case to the American people" for how potential military action will secure American national security interests.

Ari Fleischer

Former George W. Bush press secretary Ari Fleischer said Monday that President Barack Obama is right to seek congressional authorization for military action against Syria, explaining he learned from the Iraq War that such a move strengthens a nation.

Rep. Buck McKeon

Rep. Buck McKeon said Monday that while he is undecided and “still open” to voting to authorize military action in Syria, he thinks the president should have included Congress before he ever made comments about Syrian chemical weapon use being a “red line.”

Rep. Charlie Rangel

Rep. Charles Rangel on Monday called the situation for the United States on Syria “embarrassing,” saying the America should not put its troops in harm’s way because of a “red line” drawn by the president.

Robert Gibbs

Former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Monday that Obama still has to convince the American people about the need for action in Syria, and taking the decision to Congress is “an enormous political gamble.”

Mike Pompeo

Calling President Barack Obama’s approach to Syria too narrow, Rep. Mike Pompeo said Monday that he hopes Congress can persuade the president to strengthen his military plan.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi

The Democrat pressed top administration officials to take military action to punish Syrian President Bashar Assad in response to reports that he used chemical weapons in his nation’s ongoing civil war.

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Sen. Harry Reid

"I believe the use of military force against Syria is both justified and necessary."

Sen. Mitch McConnell

“The president’s role as commander-in-chief is always strengthened when he enjoys the expressed support of the Congress,” McConnell said.

Rep. Eric Cantor

A strong supporter of Israel, he is seen as leaning toward backing a limited military campaign against the Assad regime, GOP sources say.

Sen. Rand Paul

The lawmaker said he thinks the Obama administration’s only objective in Syria is “stalemate” and he does not support military action.

John McCain

The lawmaker said the goal should be to change the tide of the battle between President Assad’s regime and the rebel forces, in order to benefit the region and revitalize the U.S.’s credibility.

Hillary Clinton

The former secretary of state has not issued a statement on Syria since January, when she called Syria's violence "distressing on all fronts."

Sen. Bob Corker

The ranking Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was “very pleased” with Obama’s decision to seek Congress’s approval.

George W. Bush

The former president said he "wasn't getting roped in" to the debate on Syria. | POLITICO Screengrab

Sen. Marco Rubio

The Republican senator said he doesn't want to wait until after summer recess to make a decision, saying "I believe Congress should return to Washington immediately and begin to debate this issue."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein

The California senator and Senate Intelligence Committee chairwoman said in a statement: “I agree with Secretary Kerry that the world cannot let such a heinous attack pass without a meaningful response. I hope the international community will take appropriate action.”

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British Prime Minister David Cameron

Britain’s House of Commons rejected a motion to endorse British participation in military action in Syria, but Cameron said he'll still seek a "robust response." On Saturday he endorsed Obama's move to ask Congress for approval, tweeting "I understand and support Barack Obama's position on #Syria."

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Sen. Ted Cruz

The Republican Texas senator and potential 2016 challenger tied the president’s stance on Syria with the Obamacare health law, citing the “arrogance of this administration.” He said the authority to declare war should rest with Congress.

Carl Levin

The Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman said the White House should seek international support for “limited, targeted strikes” against Syria.

Condoleezza Rice

The former secretary of state has urged intervention in Syria, citing the country and Iran as having dictators who "butcher their own people and threaten the security of the region" during her 2012 RNC address.

Sen. Bob Menendez

The New Jersey Democratic senator said he thinks there is a case for some form of limited military action, and that there is a “compelling case to act.”

John Shinkle/POLITICO

Howard Dean

The former Vermont senator and presidential hopeful told BuzzFeed that George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq "hampers" the country's ability to do anything.

Sen. Jerry Moran

The Republican who heads the National Republican Senatorial Committee says he is firmly against military action in Syria.

Rep. Peter King

“President Obama is abdicating his responsibility as commander-in-chief and undermining the authority of future presidents,” the former Homeland Security chairman said in a statement.

Sen. Bill Nelson

Nelson, who sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he supports Obama’s decision, but “as far as I’m concerned, we should strike in Syria today.”

Sarah Palin

Sen. John Cornyn

The Texas Senator released a statement calling on President Obama to consult with Congress.

Sen. Lindsey Graham

In a joint statement with Sen. John McCain, the South Carolina senator argued that the attack could be undertaken “in a limited way, without boots on the ground.”

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Sen. James Inhofe

“As I have said before, no red line should have even been drawn without first preparing a strategic plan and assessing our resources,” the Oklahoma Republican said.

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Sen. Tim Kaine

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) said he “strongly supported” the president’s decision.
“The opportunity to fully debate this difficult situation will help educate the American public about the important issues at stake and ultimately provide a political consensus that our servicemembers must be able to rely on,” he said in a statement.

John Shinkle/POLITICO

Sen. Chuck Schumer

The New York senator has said he would support limited strikes against the Assad regime.

Rep. Eliot Engel

The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, urged Boehner to call the House back into session “immediately.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel

A Merkel spokesman told reporters that Germany is not considering military involvement, but the leader is treading lightly with the risk of straining its U.S. alliance lingering.

Sen. Mike Lee

The Republican Utah senator and tea party favorite said in a statement on his web site that Syria “is not a threat to U.S. security,” further arguing that ”the American people are still overwhelmingly against any form of American intervention in the Syrian conflict.”

Donald Rumsfeld

The former defense secretary said the Obama administration has not yet justified an attack.

Sen. Saxby Chambliss

The ranking Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee has been one of the foremost supporters of “a meaningful military response.”

Rep. Charlie Rangel

He said in a CNN interview Saturday, Aug. 31, that “there’s absolutely no question I would vote no” if an authorization vote was held today.

Rep. Scott Rigell

The Republican urged President Obama to call Congress into session and follow the British example to have a prompt debate and vote on whether to attack.

Rep. Mike Rogers

The House Intelligence Committee Chairman has been one of the most vocal advocates of the accusation that Assad gassed his own people.

Colin Powell

The former secretary of state said the situation in Syria is beyond the capability of the US to influence to any significant extent.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin

Putin urged President Barack Obama not to rush into a decision and to consider whether strikes would be worth the civilian casualties they would inevitably cause.

Leon Panetta

The former defense secretary believes that the U.S. needs to step up, back up its word and take action against Syria now that is increasingly clear that the red line has been crossed.

French President Francois Hollande

The French leader stood with the U.S. and said his country is prepared to take action against those responsible for gassing people in Syria.

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President Jimmy Carter

The former called for a “peace conference” and working with the United Nations, rather than using a military solution.

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Allen West

The former lawmaker said that Secretary of State John Kerry was not “convincing” with his “bloviating diatribe" on Syria.

Tony Blair

The former Prime Minister who led Britain into Iraq called on the West to stop “wringing its hands” and intervene in Syria.

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John Bolton

The Bush administration’s UN ambassador told POLITICO any military action would be counterproductive. “It is a mess largely of the president’s own creation,” Bolton charged.

Ban Ki-Moon

The United Nations Secretary General has sought a political solution to Syria, urging members of the Security Council to explore all diplomatic options.

Gary Johnson

The former Libertarian Party presidential candidate said in a statement there is “no clear U.S. interest in what is, in reality, a civil war on the other side of the globe.”

Fran Townsend

George Bush’s former Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism advisor tweeted that “allies should contribute real assistance not just rhetoric. But their absence & failure must not stop #US action.”

Cory Booker

Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker, who is currently running for a Senate seat in New Jersey, previously opposed U.S. intervention in Syria. But in a statement released Saturday, he seemed to take a few steps back from that position. “I expect that the president will clearly delineate what the strategic objectives are, and what limited military action will specifically achieve in Syria," he wrote.

John Negroponte

George Bush’s director of national intelligence said his experience with the war in Iraq makes him worry about the accuracy of intelligence reports.

Elliott Abrams

The Bush advisor and member of his National Security Council said the U.S. should bolster nonradical factions within the Syrian opposition.

Mike Huckabee

The 2008 GOP presidential contender asked in a statement on his web site, “What’s in it for us?” adding “When you’re enemies are killing each other… let them.”

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Madeleine Albright

The former secretary of state co-wrote a July op-ed in POLITICO, calling Syria "the most visible case of our collective failure to protect vulnerable populations from the most serious crimes."

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Dennis Kucinich

The former Ohio congressman told The Hill that a strike on Syria would turn the U.S. into "Al Qaeda's air force."

David Axelrod

“Big move by POTUS…. Congress is now the dog that caught the car,” David Axelrod wrote on Twitter. “Should be a fascinating week!”

Hans Blix

"A quick punitive action in Syria today without UN authorisation would be another precedent, suggesting that great military powers can intervene militarily when they feel politically impelled to do so," he said.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

“An intervention akin to that decided for Kosovo must be launched. An operation of one or two days will not be enough. The goal should be to force the regime out,” the Turkish prime minister said on TV.

Jan Schakowsky

"We need to determine the best way to respond to the heinous use of chemical weapons in Syria and how we can act effectively to protect civilians from further massacres,” the Illinois lawmaker said.